Tortorella has 'major concerns' about Flyers' locker room
John Tortorella has been head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers for just over two months now, and the outspoken veteran hasn't exactly given the team a vote of confidence.
"I have major concerns about the room," Tortorella said recently during an appearance on SiriusXM. "I've spent the summer going back and forth ... to Philly trying to relocate there. But (I) spent some time in the office talking to players, talking to personnel, talking to (general manager) Chuck (Fletcher), all the front office, and I have major concerns about what goes on in there.
"Before we even step on the ice, situations and standards and accountability in the room is forefront. You can't get squat done on the ice until you get your room straightened out, and I think we have a little bit of work to do there."
Tortorella added that he's in no rush to name a new captain to replace Claude Giroux, who went to the Florida Panthers prior to the trade deadline and signed with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent in July. Giroux donned the "C" from 2013-22 and is the longest-tenured captain in franchise history.
The bench boss echoed similar concerns about the Flyers when the team hired him in June. During his introductory presser, Tortorella said Philadelphia's culture had to change for the organization to improve.
The Flyers struggled in 2021-22 and finished among the worst teams with a 25-46-11 record while posting the league's third-worst goal differential (minus-87).
Tortorella spent the past season as a studio analyst for ESPN after he and the Columbus Blue Jackets agreed to part ways in May 2021.
The Flyers will take on the Boston Bruins during their first preseason game on Sept. 24.